Whisky

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it is proposed to introduce United
355W
Kingdom minimum alcoholic strength legislation for spirituous beverages so as to safeguard exports of Scotch whisky to the European Economic Community.

We have no plans to introduce legislation providing for minimum alcoholic strengths for spirituous beverages. But, from 1 January 1983, the Food Labelling Regulations 1980 will require whisky of an alcoholic strength below 40 per cent. volume, and certain other spirituous beverages below 37.2 per cent. volume, to be marked or labelled"under strength".